New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-02-17
NEW PUBLICATIONS.

NEW fODLlOA 1lON1,
CHARACTER PORTRAITS OF WASHINGTON, a. do
iiusated by HIs;oriaus Orators, and Dyines Select
cd by ". g. BAKER Alto, PIP 35l. Pnuadephia
Robert NJ Lindsay.
In tins handsome volume most interesting and
useful work has been accomplished with judgment
and thoronghness The aathor has made a selec-
fion of the personal sketches and estimates OF the
character of Washington. published by travellers,
historians statesmen. essayists. and others, from
the time of the Revolution to our own day. lie
gives extracts from the letters and memoirs OF
our French allies. from the earliest of our own
blographeJs. from English observers who first do
scribed for their countrymea the general who had
beaten their armies from patriots who stood side Dy
side with Washington IN the struggle for freedom.
and from illustrious writers at homo and abroad
who have since reviewed his great career IN
every instance the extract is accompanied by an
adequate notice of tho author. Many OF the BOOKS
and periodicals which Mr.. Baker has laid under
contribution are rare, at least not generaly
known and accessible; and even careful stuoehtS
of American history will find much that IS new 10
them in his compilation. It's gratifying to see
good work so we'll done. TIE publication IS oy no
means superhuous. The fame of Washington Is
one of our most precious possessions and few
years ago we thought it safe for oil time. Appaf-
entity it Is safe from external attacks; but
certain class of American writer's of whom Pro-
fessor J. b. McMaster is one of the worst speci-
MEMS are never content unless they can dIsparage
those characters who have commanded the APP
plause of the rest of the world. They refuse to
JOIN the general chorus, although they can give
no reason for keeping out of it. lone OF these
days, ;" they murmur. we shall fad ont that this
Washington was not SO much after all only man
like the rest of u.s." In the meanwhile time does
not dim the lustre of the Father of his Country,
lnfAl
the admring judgments of which MI Bakers
volume presents such striking report.
LEE OF EMERY A. sroKRs. His Wit and Eloqnsnce
Forensic Career. Bv Isaac X. ADAMS. Esq under
the Direction OF Mrs. Storrs Aol al oVo PIP ool.
Hubbard brothers.
The curousIy worded statement Of the title-page,
with respect to the authorship of this work,
sufficiently explains Its purpose and character 1t
is a monument erected at the dictate of affection;
not ON tbataecount less acceptable TO the public,
Dut on the contrary presenting eoms good qualities
which perhaps should rot have found except IN
such family tribute No better memorial Of Mr..
Storrs could have been prepared than selection OF
his political speeches and legal arguments. He
was equally successful on the platform and at the
bar, and In both departments specimens of his
0ratorv we'll worth preserving. Ills powers as
o jury lawyer and his powers a campaign speaker
remarkably happy faculty Of stating hi, case. Tie
facts were put with the utmost force and neatness
The argument was made so plain that the dullest
listener could not but follow it. Illustrations we're
marshaled with ingenuity and the whole
set off with vivacOus. brilliant, ferrid. and
natural STYLE which never failed to captivate the
audienoe-whethcr that consisted of twelve men in
a box or some thousands of men in a hail. Mr. |
Storrs was sometimes forcbe in his reasoning |
sometimes formidable in his invective often quick
In his Wit and racy in his stories; but whatever |
manner the occasion led him to adopt he was |
always interesting. Several of his political utter !
ancss made in the excitement Of canvass. should |
not have been perpetuated. Probably If he were |
living he would not wish to reprint his incorporate
attacks upon Horace Greedy, delivered in 1872. |
Mr.. St0rrs made mistakes sometimes and many OF
them sprang from the ardor of his party attach !
ment. TIE iudicious reader. however, will under |
stand how to make the proper allowance for |
p.ejudices and misconceptions. Apart from these |
evidences of human fallibility the book is an
excellent study iii the art of popular Oratoly.
LAST EVENING WITH ALIsToN aud Other Papers |
BY ELIZABETH p. PEABODY limo up. $50. ID.
Lothrop * co.
The three papers on Aliston which stand at the
head of chs volume although they re.ats to sub
ject which our generation inclined to neglect
will be read with interest on account of their |
sympathetic exposition of attractive personality
as well as an important fgnro IN American art. |
The last evening" which Miss Peabody describes |
was devoted to high talk upon spiritual themes. |
and in all the three papers is considered mainly
In its greater relation to the soul. The other seec
tions from various periodicals, including The |
DIAL and represent long stretch Of time. not less
than thirty years Of the venerable authors busy
and usefu. life Several Of them have a special |
attraction 10 the fact that they the product of
an era of philosophy and aspiration which is fast
fading into the obscure To rescue them from for
eetlness is to much useful mater for tho
history of American thought, as we'll as to
entertain the present reader.
SHORT HISTORY OF PARLIAMENT. BY b. C.
sKoTTowE NJ. A, New College, oxford. 12mo PIP.
w., 345. Harper & Brothers
Mr. Skottowe offers new history of Parliament
with the abrasive statement that he has tried to
make 1t interesting. His success is undenable |
Anecdotes personal sketches lively reflections,
and accounts of party contests are literally mingled
with constitutional dsquis.tion; and whatever
fhe loo 10 fnrir tha!